Beijing, China: things to do, when to go & how long to stay

Overview

The political and historic centre, holding several UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the nearest sections of the Great Wall.

Plan & book

Stays, activities and transport for Beijing will be bookable here soon.

Where to stayComing soon

Curated stays by area and budget will appear here once hotel partners are connected.

Tours & activitiesComing soon

Bookable experiences will appear here once activity partners are connected.

Car rentalComing soon

Rental pickup options will appear here once car partners are connected.

Why go to Beijing

The Forbidden City and Tiananmen
Great Wall sections from restored to wild
Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Hutong neighbourhoods and Peking duck

Budget

Beijing is mid-range by China standards. Across China, mid-range travellers typically spend about $80–$140 per person per day.

Country-level planning estimate, excluding flights. See the full China budget breakdown.

Practical information

Major sites require advance online reservation with passport details
Winters are cold and dry; summers hot and humid

When to go to Beijing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Plan 3–5 days here. Highlighted months are the best fit for most travellers.

Getting around

High-speed rail is the default for intercity travel — the world's largest such network, and usually faster than flying between eastern cities
Domestic flights make sense for the far west, Tibet, Yunnan and Hainan

Suggested itineraries

China classic
12 days
The headline three by high-speed rail.
Route: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Classic plus karst
15 days
Adds pandas and the Li River landscapes.
Route: Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin & Yangshuo → Shanghai